This is a bad team right now

[bnoro]

The big question. Is he starting to see the field better or did the competition make the throws easier, or did the play calling start to find rhythm with what plays work the best?

if its #1 and or #3 that's a good thing. If its #2 who knows.

But let's hope the Oline allows less and less of the mistake free runs to the QB. You have to live with the Dline making plays, We don't want to give them plays as well.

I'll get downvotes and called negative but it's pretty clearly #2 right now.

He got better at the end of the Tennessee game because they took the foot off the gas, and his checkdowns had solid YAC.

Delaware had 500 yards against UConn's defense, with their QB accounting for 265 passing yards and 20 rushing.

Colgate might not be a .500 team this year.

If he comes out against Clemson and throws for even 250, then I'll be encouraged.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I'll get downvotes and called negative but it's pretty clearly #2 right now.

He got better at the end of the Tennessee game because they took the foot off the gas, and his checkdowns had solid YAC.

Delaware had 500 yards against UConn's defense, with their QB accounting for 265 passing yards and 20 rushing.

Colgate might not be a .500 team this year.

If he comes out against Clemson and throws for even 250, then I'll be encouraged.

One of the reasons I always felt that a dual threat QB was always the best fit at Syracuse was because our O line play for the most part has been hit or miss for quite some time, mostly miss unless Marrone was the coach. Kyle McCord was a blessing because he could throw into tight pockets and get rid of the ball quickly. We should know more about Angeli and the O line soon enough because it won't get any easier from here on out. Hoping for the best. I think Angeli could be very good with adequate O line play

 

[Archbold44]

I'll get downvotes and called negative but it's pretty clearly #2 right now.

He got better at the end of the Tennessee game because they took the foot off the gas, and his checkdowns had solid YAC.

Delaware had 500 yards against UConn's defense, with their QB accounting for 265 passing yards and 20 rushing.

Colgate might not be a .500 team this year.

If he comes out against Clemson and throws for even 250, then I'll be encouraged.

Well, he could throw for 400 because we are down by 20 the whole game. I think the litmus test is less about stats and more about "are we really in the game." Someone else said it... Tennessee game felt like, after Q1, we were never in it and never out of it at the same time. If it is a 1-score game deep into the 4th Quarter, then he probably did pretty well. Better to punt than to give up a Pick 6 or fumble.

 

[Archbold44]

One of the reasons I always felt that a dual threat QB was always the best fit at Syracuse was because our O line play for the most part has been hit or miss for quite some time, mostly miss unless Marrone was the coach. Kyle McCord was a blessing because he could throw into tight pockets and get rid of the ball quickly. We should know more about Angeli and the O line soon enough because it won't get any easier from here on out. Hoping for the best. I think Angeli could be very good with adequate O line play

It is also up to the OC to play to our strengths and the opponents weaknesses. After 3 games, we have a better sense of where we are weak/strong and perhaps where they are weak/strong. Not like Clemson played Indiana's schedule and we do not know what they can/will do. They are not saving plays for us.

I wonder if we will try a true trick play against Clemson early to see if we can take the crowd out of the game.

 

[HRE Otto IV]

One of the reasons I always felt that a dual threat QB was always the best fit at Syracuse was because our O line play for the most part has been hit or miss for quite some time, mostly miss unless Marrone was the coach. Kyle McCord was a blessing because he could throw into tight pockets and get rid of the ball quickly. We should know more about Angeli and the O line soon enough because it won't get any easier from here on out. Hoping for the best. I think Angeli could be very good with adequate O line play

I agree with this. One thing that I do think has changed is the portal. Now we can get a McCord or even an Angeli. Where as before we would have that OL and a lessor QB making the situation even worse.

Either way IMO we need more balance. Angeli is not McCord, and won't be able to keep these numbers up without a viable running game. That is the one part about Nixon's O that needs to be fixed. We don't need a 50-50 split but it would be nice to be closer to 60-40.

 

[bnoro]

One of the reasons I always felt that a dual threat QB was always the best fit at Syracuse was because our O line play for the most part has been hit or miss for quite some time, mostly miss unless Marrone was the coach. Kyle McCord was a blessing because he could throw into tight pockets and get rid of the ball quickly. We should know more about Angeli and the O line soon enough because it won't get any easier from here on out. Hoping for the best. I think Angeli could be very good with adequate O line play

Agreed. I also feel like with Nixon's ability to design plays and incorporate motion, we should be trying to get the ball out quicker and neutralize the weakness of the OL. Doesn't have to be every play but there needs to be more of it.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Agreed. I also feel like with Nixon's ability to design plays and incorporate motion, we should be trying to get the ball out quicker and neutralize the weakness of the OL. Doesn't have to be every play but there needs to be more of it.

Agreed, if you can't establish a more traditional type running game and your QB is not a true threat running the ball then to me this would be the only way they are going to keep Angeli from getting killed in many of these next games. They can't just keep dropping him back and hoping the O line can hold up. I just think that's a recipe for disaster. Certainly not ideal.

 

[CanadianSU]

Why is everyone surprised here is my question. Cuse lost a LOT. Combined with the schedule… idk.

You kinda all should be still upset (not really we should move on but you catch my drift) about how we blew Stanford which could have been a generational year. This is a stepping stone for our hopeful generational year next season.

Also if you can’t see the young talent Cuse has and compare it idk Babers teams you are blind.

 

[PhatOrange]

Agreed, if you can't establish a more traditional type running game and your QB is not a true threat running the ball then to me this would be the only way they are going to keep Angeli from getting killed in many of these next games. They can't just keep dropping him back and hoping the O line can hold up. I just think that's a recipe for disaster. Certainly not ideal.

This is why I was really disappointed we didn't come out and try to establish a running game against Colgate.

 

[Archbold44]

This is why I was really disappointed we didn't come out and try to establish a running game against Colgate.

I guess the upside is that we ran the ball better against Tennessee than either UConn or Colgate. And I am not sure that Tennessee's defense is necessarily worse than Clemson's. I get that Georgia put up a lot of points on them... but they are quite familiar with each other.

Yasin at least averages 4 YPC. As a team, averaging 3 YPC is not going to get it done though.

 

[SuFTW]

This is why I was really disappointed we didn't come out and try to establish a running game against Colgate.

I think it may have been more important to get Angeli more comfortable throwing the ball.

 

[Archbold44]

I think it may have been more important to get Angeli more comfortable throwing the ball.

Yes. Even think of practice.. a more confident Angeli is better able to test the defense to help them grow.

I will say this... we are a fairly physical team. Tennessee lost two key defenders against us that are still out. But they played Q1 against us. So they had a better D against us in Q1 than in Q4... and they had more talent against us in Q1 against us than they did during any part of the Georgia game. So, maybe Clemson's current D will be better than Tennessee's when we were finally able to move the ball.

 

[GoSU96]

I should have used inexperienced vs Young. Our entire D front is made up of older players without a ton of experience. Next year it's another complete rebuild on the D front. I get the criticism of Erob and I agree he needs to improve. I think he will or Fran will support/give play calling duties over to someone else.
5 to 7 wins is my projected finish.

I think part of the defensive issues statistically is playing three deep.

Need to play the 7-8 best guys at LB and DB and stick with it.

The hockey line changes are leading to inefficiencies

 

[baggerbob]

I agree with this. One thing that I do think has changed is the portal. Now we can get a McCord or even an Angeli. Where as before we would have that OL and a lessor QB making the situation even worse.

Either way IMO we need more balance. Angeli is not McCord, and won't be able to keep these numbers up without a viable running game. That is the one part about Nixon's O that needs to be fixed. We don't need a 50-50 split but it would be nice to be closer to 60-40.

If Willis isn't able to go we won't have a running game Nixon's son is a nice 3rd down player, but not an every down back. He won't run over anyone or past them. Basically a nice player.

 

[Yeti]

If Willis isn't able to go we won't have a running game Nixon's son is a nice 3rd down player, but not an every down back. He won't run over anyone or past them. Basically a nice player.

He's just very average. Nice hands but unexceptional at everything else. The absolute visible gulf between watching him carry the ball and watching Willis carry the ball is incredible.

 

[Millhouse]

Agreed, if you can't establish a more traditional type running game and your QB is not a true threat running the ball then to me this would be the only way they are going to keep Angeli from getting killed in many of these next games. They can't just keep dropping him back and hoping the O line can hold up. I just think that's a recipe for disaster. Certainly not ideal.

Dual threat guys are just as likely to get killed because they tend to hang on to it too long

 

[Chip]

Dual threat guys are just as likely to get killed because they tend to hang on to it too long

Dino learned both lessons while here.

1. A more athletic QB was going to be the best way for him to keep drives alive, keep his defense off the field, and score points.
2. A more athletic QB was more likely to get injured and he never had enough of them.

And then Dino left here without an identity.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Dual threat guys are just as likely to get killed because they tend to hang on to it too long

eventually yes but they may be able to get some wins versus better teams. Not sure that will be the case with this team unless the O line makes a miraculous turn around.

 

[GoSU96]

eventually yes but they may be able to get some wins versus better teams. Not sure that will be the case with this team unless the O line makes a miraculous turn around.

The ingredients are there. If they are going to have 50 called passes a game, I won’t get worked up about 3 or 4 sacks a game. Need to get to 4.5 yds per rush and the offense will be fine

 

[upperdeck]

Tenn losing both Corners exposed then to some issues for sure vs GA. They are deep but still losing 3-4-5 guys adds up.